Fairweather

Climbed Mount Athabasca Saturday with my brother Steve, by the normal glacier route. Beautiful weather! A couple parties on the Silverhorn, and a couple more on the North Face. (including a party of two that appeared to be struggling very badly) Both routes looked very icy. FYI: The "Skyladder" route on Andromeda looked very thin from the road. The rappel down to AA Glacier (partially visible from Athabasca summit) looks sickening. (by my slogger standards) 13 hour drive up (from Tacoma) 6 hours sleep 5 1/2 hours to summit 1 hour on top 3 hours down 12 hour drive home

MattP Which routes have you done? I have three days to climb next weekend and we're looking at The Castle Route as one of our options. (I'm sure it is bone dry right now, but on this particular route, I'm not sure late season conditions are a detrement) I've wanted to do this route ever since I read "Tales of a Western Mountaineer". Any beta to share?

Took my son up Old Snowy last Saturday. The flowers were out!

quote: Originally posted by Peter Puget: Darn! Fairweather and here I thought you were on the right side of these arguments. Pun intended. The US is at very low unemployment (even under current conditions)and you find it ethically wrong to support a person in China who is living under completely destitute conditions in favor of a comparatively fabulously rich person with lots of alternatives in the US? I just don't get it. Care for kin but not for kind? PP While I do believe in "free trade", I reserve the right to make consumer choices based on business ethics. My major point was intended to question why the three gaiters cost the same! It is certainly within Mountain Hardware's and BD's right to make as much profit as the market will bear. This said, why don't they lower the price of their gaiters and compete? It is almost as though the prices of the three gaiters were FIXED. All other things being roughly equal...I'll chose American-made. As far as "caring"....yes, I DO care more about American/Western (and Japan & So Korea & Rus.Fed.& Taiwan too!) workers than those in communist China. (What can I say?) [ 08-13-2002, 09:31 PM: Message edited by: Fairweather ]

Used 4 times. Size 42 euro (8 1/2 - 9 US). Paid $425; asking $200/offer. E-mail me: rybolt@seanet.com or send an PM.

I recently purchased a new set of gaiters. My choices were: 1.) Mountain Hardware "Ventigater" 2.) Black Diamond 3.) OR Supercroc's. All three were about the same price (55.00). It came down to this.....The OR's were the only ones made in the USA. Both Black D's and Mtn. Hardware's were "made in China". If they were made with cheap labor and lax regulation in a country with no environmental or human rights restrictions.... Then Why The F@#$% aren't they cheaper?! Seems to me maybe Black Diamond should stop harping about genetically modified corn, and make their products in the USA, or at least in a country who's workers enjoy a higher standard of living. ( Canada, W Europe, even Checz Rep! ) Anyway, I bought the OR's.

SS, While I think the "99%" figure is absurd, your post is appreciated. My daughter is 16. I think back to when I was 16... I could go hiking, climbing, biking, with friends. I had few worries about abduction or violence being perpetrated upon me. I find it sad/shameful/sickening that my daughter cannot take off on some hikes, in many areas, alone or with a female friend for fear that she will become another victim. Would I let her go for a solo day hike up the Middle Fork?... Hell No! My son?...Yes, probably. A double standard based on sad facts. Can anyone honestly say that a 16 year old male is at the same risk? I am convinced the most dangerous part of many backcountry trips lies at/below the trailhead where the most dangerous animals on Earth live. My daughter is far from naive, yet not overly paranoid either. I'm looking into enrolling her in a Ju-Jitsu class as this appears to be the most "street-oriented", female friendly self defense. (She tells me she'll do it...if her friends don't find out.) Do you have any suggestions? [ 08-05-2002, 11:04 PM: Message edited by: Fairweather ]

quote: Originally posted by Cpt.Caveman: "Designate" some place as wilderness to get more people there. I like the part about making some areas wheelchair accessible. I am not discriminating but damn I dont see too many people in wheelchairs out in the mountains except for that dude who whined about not having wheelchair accessible crappers at muir. The reason that handicapped guy threatened to sue the NPS about the toilets/access was because they gave him so much SHIT about using his "mechanized" snowpod in designated wilderness. Took him over 2 years to get "approval". .....Maybe the NPS had to check with The Sierra Club to see if it was OK.

Wow! I've been out of town for a few days and look at the spray! (Thanks for not robbing my house Alpine K) ...And a blatant troll from my "Loser-tarian"/socialist friend Zenolith. Mike Adam and Greg W have my respect. As for "Dr Flash Amazing"; his constant use of third-person when referring to himself and his very Avatar indicates his ego is probably boundless, and his ideas are predictably in favor of a weak America. I doubt there is any reasoning to be had with him. I'll keep my comments short: 1) Aireal bombardment = fewer American soldiers dying. (Yes, Dr Flash...this is a good thing) 2) The decision to produce the B1 Bomber was the straw that broke the USSR's financial back. (Socialism rewards the lazy and punishes the ambitious...how could they ever finish the marathon?) 3) The Saudi's are NOT our friends either....we should stop buying their oil and get it elsewhere. (Russian Fed. or ANWR) If the Saudi's want to keep supporting Islamic revolution/terrorism around the world then we should bomb them too. (from air bases in Isreal....our only true friends in the region). We should NOT buy our oil from them! (wake up GW!) 4) Sometimes might-makes-right. 5) I'm really tired of the same old liberal "I'm-smarter-than-you-are" arguments. Liberals should realize that much of America looks upon them with the same disdain that liberals themselves heap upon wealthy country-club snobs. 6) As American citizens we are all free to make our case for change.....within the bounds of the law and The US Constitution. ....I'm not sure all Liberals today are willing to stay within those boundaries. (As recently demonstrated by WTO and comp. gatherings worldwide) Maybe Mike Adam is right. Maybe it comes down to "left vs. right"....You vs. us. 7) On the evening of 9/11/01 I saw images of sorrow/horror from Isreal, Russia, western Europe, China, around the world.......and images of muslims dancing in the streets and passing out candy around the world.... (including a Somali population near Seattle.) Should we really be searching 70 year old Chineese ladies at airports in the name of PC? Get real! [ 08-04-2002, 10:45 AM: Message edited by: Fairweather ]

Careful Poseur! One step or thought that differs from the Official Environmentalist Hysteria Playbook and you'll be labeled "enemy of the environment". Curious that this hysteria was mostly absent during the Clinton years. Oh, that's right....he signed the 10ppm arsenic-in-the-water order!.....just a couple days before he left office. Wow! What political courage Mr Bill had. Bush Sr. at least signed The Clean Air Act. What was it WJClinton did for the environment again?

.......oh; California. (I thought you were talking about your FARC buddies down in Columbia) I haven't read much about what the new CA vehicle emmission restrictions mean so I won't go off half-cocked just yet. I AM a big supporter of state's rights though.

News from Cali? Please enlighten me.

quote: Originally posted by AlpineK: Here's an organization I think Fairweather, MtnGoat, and Shuksan should join asap. Society Alpine-"A Beacon in the Smog"-K, Both Shuksan and j-b have made persuasive arguments,(which is more than you--or I have done) but once again you hear what you want, and so do I. I feel this debate only demonstrates the inconclusivity of the subject. Shall our nation now break the bank on debatable science? I've heard estimates as high as 1 trillion dollars to implement Kyoto. What other environmental programs would we sacrifice to pay this?? Would a nation broken by economic depression put environmental protection aside completely? Absolutely. Medium-term, I believe it may be of economic benefit for the USA to start making the conversion to non oil based energy. We could lead the world and reap the rewards both economically and environmentally. (I've never denied that our cars pollute!) So, where shall we start? Solar?... How will we store it? In lead/acid/cadmium/lithium/ batteries that will inevitably end up in our landfills/water? Wind power? ...not! Fusion?....Not even close yet. You have an answer Alpine-"a beacon in the smog"-K? ...or are you just j_b's lap dog tonight? [ 07-22-2002, 10:57 PM: Message edited by: Fairweather ]

quote: Originally posted by Roger: quote:Originally posted by Fairweather: Bicyclists=Tele Skiers.....arrogant, holier-than-thou, snobs. Now, there's an enlightened viewpoint. What are your thoughts on other categories of people? blacks? jews? people who drive foreign cars? just curious. Gimme a break "Roge".

Here is an interesting ABC News story that aired on "20/20". I'm not a big fan of network news, but John Stossel makes some interesting observations: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/2020/2020/stossel_tamperingwnature020614.html I'm sure AlpineK will be quick to delegitimize this reporter as an agent for big oil....somthing he was no doubt able to confirm via "Grist" ("a beacon in the smog") magazine or some other sub-culture rag. [ 07-17-2002, 11:46 PM: Message edited by: Fairweather ]

Bicyclists=Tele Skiers.....arrogant, holier-than-thou, snobs.

quote: Originally posted by AlpineK: quote:Originally posted by Fairweather: Mtn Goat, Wind power; hydrogen; solar; all good ideas seriously worth spending billions researching. ....But rest assured those like AlpineK would quickly find fault in those energy sources too. You see, what they really hate is that humans (ESPECIALLY Americans) are "living too well". I believe they will always see the glass as half-empty. They are tortured by the guilt of living their own good lives. ...just MHO You are totally wrong and off base to charactorize my views that way. I could charactorize you. All you are about is money and fucking over the less fortunate. You like big business. So I bet like Enron screwed retired folks out of their life savings you are trying to screw someone. I don't agree with MtnGoat, but at least he doesn't make broad statements about what I believe in. Give me a break AK, I can't even count the number of times you've taken unprovoked swipes at me. Generalizing, mischaracterizing, outright lies about studies I've supposedly cited, accusing me of owning stock in Texaco, and the list goes on and on............ So I take a little baby swipe at you and you cry all over your keyboard. Grow some skin. [ 07-16-2002, 09:08 PM: Message edited by: Fairweather ]

Mtn Goat, You are wasting your breath (keystrokes) with the likes of AlpineK and associates. "The Sky is Falling!" and no one will ever convince them otherwise. I agree with your assesment of the global warming situation. "Science" has been drowned out by hysteria and a lazy media willing to gobble down whatever "facts" are fed to them by any left-leaning special interest group. Wind power; hydrogen; solar; all good ideas seriously worth spending billions researching. ....But rest assured those like AlpineK would quickly find fault in those energy sources too. You see, what they really hate is that humans (ESPECIALLY Americans) are "living too well". I believe they will always see the glass as half-empty. They are tortured by the guilt of living their own good lives. ...just MHO

I was in Enumclaw today and noticed that the entire east side of Willis Wall looks much darker than it did a couple days ago. From this distance it looks like that side of the wall was very recently scoured. It even looks noticeable from Tacoma. (look at the area below about 13,000 feet on Curtis Ridge.) The west side of the wall still holds much snow....as did the east side as of a couple days ago. Am I seeing things? I look at the mountain daily, and this looks unusual. Mike G have any info? [ 07-12-2002, 09:11 PM: Message edited by: Fairweather ]

quote: Originally posted by AlpineK: Glen the majority of scientists think that humans are causing a much more rapid warming of the earth than nauture ever did. Even the Bush Admin agrees with this Hey AK! Can you back your "majority of scientists" claim, or is this just more anecdote? By the way; the Bush Admin does NOT agree. The memo circulated by the EPA/Christine Whitman was disavowed by the administration. Once again, your "facts" are misleading or downright false.

quote: Originally posted by AlpineK: Dennis, I don't think you've met one of the other long time posters, "Fairweather," but you're about to... He's going to give you links to sources like the Cato(SP?) Institute, who's financial backing comes from industries opposed to any kind of change in types of fuel used by the US. Also Fairweather will give you links to, "scientific," studies that lack peer review, but have funding from the institutions I noted above. Have fun with Fairweather; I think he's got a lot of stock in Texaco and such. AK, I'm calling "bullshit". Show me a thread where I've ever quoted the Cato Institute.....and list for everyone here the "studies that lack peer review, but have funding [ from the institutions you noted above]" that I've quoted. All I've ever supported is common sense. Something reactionaries like you seem to lack.

I climbed Constance from NORTH FORK Tunnel Creek back in 1987. (89?) It was about a 4 mile bushwack with a few stretches of Devils Club, but opened up nicely below the east face route. I dont know if this road is still driveable, but the climb was a fairly easy two day trip.

Anyone out there have beta re: Kates Needle? (Stikine area) Devils Thumb is the main attraction in that area, but I saw a black&white photo of Kates Needle in CAJ a few years ago and have been curious ever since. Looks like it might fit the criteria of a "2 weeks or less" Alaska Expedition. Beautiful looking peak. I think this was a Beckey first ascent. Landing site same as Devils Thumb? Skis? Nasty cornices? General History? Thanks.

I overall disagree with what Dennis has been writing, and this 40 year old, mostly-Republican, secular-based conservative thinks that today's youth are generally smarter and just as hard working as preceding generation(s). Expectations of them are generally higher all around, and I am particularly bothered by statements that they are unpatriotic. I believe this generation's response to 9/11 has gone a long way to dispell many unjustified notions. As a father of a 16 year old daughter, a 13 year old son, and brother to a 21 year old university student, I am by no means far removed from the "younger generation", and I can tell you with great certainty my concens re this group are minimal. The pendulum swings back and forth....right, left, right, left.....the trick is to keep it from swinging out of control, and I don't see that happening in the near future. Sure, I'd like to see things farther to the right; but not so far that the game is won. What fun would that be?